HYDERABAD, July 12: A large number of tail-end growers of Kunar Shakh, which is fed from the Rohri Canal, held a protest demonstration on the Shaikh Bhirkio-Hyderabad Road on Friday against the artificial shortage of water.

They blocked the road for quite some time and burnt tyres on it. They raised slogans against the officials of the irrigation department and “the water thieves”.

Addressing the rally, Mir Mushtaq Ali Talpur and others said that irrigation department officials were involved in the water theft and were selling the tail-end growers’ water to the influential people.

The SDO of Irrigation fled from his office fearing the protesters.

A heavy contingent of the Tando Jam police rushed to the spot and soon brought the situation under control.

The growers took the police to the Kunar Shakh and showed them 22 places from where water was being stolen.